By: Kevin Ramsell
Elko, MN – The one thing that makes Elko Speedway unique is how it has been embraced by many families.
Look at this Saturday’s ASA Midwest Tour’s Thunderstruck 93 event. It honors Dan Ryan, who lost his life to ALS in 2009. The Ryan family, along with the Fredrickson family and others, will be honoring Dan, but also raising money and awareness for the battle to find a cure for ALS.
Just looking around the pits, you will find many families supporting their driver or drivers this weekend.
As you browse around, you will come upon a #18 of Michael Ostdiek.
The Lakeville, MN driver will be one to tell you that Elko Speedway is more than just a track to him and his family.
“Elko Speedway is a huge part of my life. My grandparents, John and Mary Ostdiek (on my dad’s side), owned and operated it back in the late 70s into the early to mid-nineties and juggled owning/operating Raceway Park for a large portion of that time,” Ostdiek shared about his family’s history. “And then on my mom’s side, my Grandpa Larry Behrens and late Uncle Dwain Behrens raced there, and both had a lot of success. My parents met because of Elko Speedway, so it’s safe to say it’s a special place to me and my family.”
This Saturday’s Thunderstruck 93 event is one that Ostdiek has been eager to be a part of this weekend and be a part of the ASA Midwest Tour event at his true home track.
“It is very cool for me and others that call Elko home. Elko is one of the nicest facilities, puts on great racing, so it only makes sense to have a touring series like the Midwest Tour come in and showcase what the track has to offer,” Ostdiek explained. “Super late racing went away for a little bit there at Elko. So to have supers on the schedule for a night is great in itself and then to pair it up with a touring series like the Midwest Tour, just makes it that much better. I’ve only raced at Elko with the tour once back in 2017, so I am really excited for this weekend.”
Ostdiek could be one to watch this Saturday night as he is coming off a solid season at the 1/3-mile oval.
“It’s been a solid year! Our weekly late model has been really good for us and that’ll be the car we are racing for the big show Saturday,” Ostdiek said. “We started the year off with a feature win. Then we ended up getting second place every night after that in at least one of the double features which is something I’m happy about to a certain extent. I wish we won a few more but we don’t race every weekend like we used to so to be as competitive as we have been, is something I’m proud of.”
About Dan Ryan, Sr.: The 125-lap race will honor Elko Speedway Hall of Famer “Thunder” Dan Ryan Sr., who passed away in 2009 after a three-year battle with ALS. Dan was a former racer who became a leader amongst the competitors in the pit area and tutored many young drivers as they worked their way through the racing ranks. The name of the event is named after Ryan’s favorite song, “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC. There will be a ten-minute break on lap 93 of the ASA Midwest Tour race to honor him.
Schedule of Events for Thunderstruck 93, Saturday, September 20, 2025: 12 p.m. Pit Gate Opens 2 p.m. Practice Begins 4:30 p.m. Spectator Gates Open 6 p.m. Qualifying Begins
Ticket Pricing:
Adults: $25
Senior and Military: $22
Kids ages 6-12: $5
Children ages 5 and under: Free
Advance discount tickets are available by clicking here.
Divisions: ASA Midwest Tour, Late Models, Thunder Cars, Power Stocks
Location: Elko Speedway is located at 26350 France Avenue in Elko, New Market, MN. For additional information, visit www.elkospeedway.com or call 952-461-7223.
Past Winners:
2009- Jacob Goede
2010- Dan Fredrickson
2011- Dan Fredrickson
2012- Dan Fredrickson
2013- Andrew Morrissey
2014- Dan Fredrickson
2015- Ty Majeski
2016- Dan Fredrickson
2017- Dalton Zehr
2018- Owin Giles
2019- Jacob Goede
2025- Justin Mondeik
